How to Keep Slack Active 24/7: The Ultimate Guide (2026)

There is nothing more frustrating than the "Yellow Dot."

You are at your desk, reading a long document or sketching ideas on a notepad. You are working hard. But because you haven't moved your mouse in exactly 10 minutes, Slack decides to tell your entire company that you are "Away."

In the era of remote work, this tiny status indicator has become a major source of anxiety. It feels like a digital manager constantly looking over your shoulder.

In this guide, we will explain exactly how Slack's activity tracking works and provide you with 4 proven methods to keep Slack active 24/7—ranging from "low-tech" hacks to modern browser-based solutions.

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Why Does Slack Mark Me as "Away"?

Before we fix it, let's understand the trigger.

According to Slack's official documentation, the app automatically determines your availability based on your peripheral interaction.

• Desktop: If there is no mouse movement or keyboard clicks for 10 minutes, you are marked inactive.
• Mobile: As soon as you switch apps or lock your screen, you are marked inactive immediately.

Unlike Microsoft Teams, which sometimes syncs with your Outlook calendar, Slack is purely activity-based. This means you can be in a Zoom call or deep in thought, and Slack will still turn you yellow.

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Method 1: The "Huddle" Trick (Temporary Fix)

A common workaround circulating on Reddit is the "Lone Huddle."

1. Create a personal DM with yourself.
2. Start a "Huddle" (audio chat) inside that DM.
3. Stay in the Huddle alone.

The Verdict: While this used to work, Slack has updated its algorithm. Staying in a huddle does show you as "In a Huddle," but it can still show the empty circle indicating "Away" if you don't interact with the window. Plus, your colleagues might wonder why you have been in a "Huddle" for 8 hours straight.

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Method 2: The Analog Watch Hack (Low Tech)

This is a classic "MacGyver" solution.

1. Take an analog wristwatch with a ticking second hand.
2. Place your optical mouse directly on top of the watch face.

Why it works: The optical sensor in your mouse detects the movement of the ticking second hand and interprets it as tiny physical movements. The Downside: It requires you to take your watch off, and it's not reliable. If the mouse slides off, you go yellow.

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Method 3: Browser-Based Jiggler (The Safest Way)

If you want to keep Slack green without buying hardware or looking suspicious in a fake meeting, using a browser-based activity simulator is the gold standard for 2026.

Tools like MoveMyCursor run safely in a background tab.

How to use it for Slack:

1. Open MoveMyCursor.com in your browser (Chrome, Edge, Safari, or Firefox).
2. Click the big green START button.
3. Crucial Step: Keep the Slack web app open, OR just leave the browser running in the background while you have the Slack desktop app open.

Because MoveMyCursor keeps your computer's system awake and simulates a "presence" heartbeat, the operating system tells Slack, "The user is still active."

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FAQ: Keeping Slack Green

Can my boss see I am using a tool? If you use installed software (like .exe auto-clickers), yes, IT can scan for those programs. If you use MoveMyCursor, no. It runs inside the browser sandbox and looks like a normal website visit.

Does this work if Slack is minimized? Yes. As long as our tool is running in a browser tab, it prevents your operating system from sending the "Idle" signal to other apps like Slack or Teams.

Will this prevent my screen from locking? Yes. You can use the "Force Screen Awake" button on our homepage to ensure your monitor never goes black, which is often the first trigger for Slack to mark you as away.

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Conclusion

You shouldn't have to fear a 10-minute timer. Whether you are taking a mental health break, reading a physical book, or just focusing without touching the mouse, you deserve to control your status.

For the easiest, installation-free solution, keep MoveMyCursor running in a pinned tab.

Keep Slack Active Now